Minutes from May mtg

GRANDMOTHERS OF STEEL
MEETING- MAY 16, 2007, 7:00
WILHELM ROOM, STS PETER AND PAUL CHURCH, 50 BRUCEDALE AVE. E., HAMILTON
Members present- Leslie Wiens, Georgina Hewitt, Pamela Petz, Maureen Godden, Jesse Kaye, Bithika Raychaudhuri, Marie Barclay, Jan Lukas, Ruth Pearson, Lynda Clark, Mary Beech, Marion Quirk, Mary Dayman, Kay O'Sullivan, Diane Keesmaat, Ellen Ryan, Theresa Randles
Regrets- Ellen Ryan, Judian Shardlow, Lisbie Rae, Anne Philpot, Shirley Routliffe, Martha Paynter, Barb Benjamin, Eileen Benson, Kathy Clark
Pre-meeting jewellery sale, card distribution, print sale
Updates
-Proceeds from the Half Life fundraiser on April 26- $1,700 in ticket sales, $245 in card sales, $350 in donations
-Jan filled us in on the Oomama fundraiser on May 10. There was $100,000 made, and 1,400 letters were filled to send to Stephen Harper urging Canada to act on the commitment to send anti-retroviral drugs to Africa. Stephen Lewis was wonderful as usual. Our card sales made $520 and Kay was asked to send a cheque for this amount to the SLF with a memo note indicating that this amount was made at the May 10 Oomama event.
-The Mother's Day fundraiser on May 13- $710 in ticket sales, $248 in card/print sales, hall cost was $40
We then had the DVD viewing "The Man Who Couldn't Sleep"
New Business
-in order to get more card sets printed we need to look around for printers that will give us the best deal. Lisbie is looking into one possibility. Ellen suggested that if we acknowledge the printing company on the cards we might get a discount. Also if we offer the company a chance to claim for charitable donation. The possibility of using the charitable donation number of the SLF was raised, and needs to be looked into.
-we need a new venue for meetings. Sts Peter and Paul is no longer going to be made available to us. Lisbie had prevoiusly suggested the Unitarian Church on Dundurn and several members thought this would be a good possibility. Georgina mentioned that Joy Warner could look into this as well. Maureen said she, as secretary of Church of the Resurrection on Garth and Mohawk would look into it as an option. The possibility of using two venues means that long travelling distances will not always be for the same members.
-hosting the Great Canadian Quilt- Georgina explained what this is. The quilt is made up of squares representing several different cultures in Canada and spans three walls. It is being shown across the country and will eventually settle in Ottawa. Should any member want to arrange to host the Quilt for a showing (as a fundraiser), Theresa has the contact information.
-Blooms for Africa- Shelley explained that this event is being planned for July, by a group of women including Carolyn Leman and Gloria Geller of the Unitarian Church and on the G of S contact list. It will involve 12-15 homes with garden tours, crafts to sell, refreshments. The G of S will gladly get information out to the members for this fundraising event.
-speaking engagements- Lisbie will be speaking to the Flamborough Rotary on June 20. Jan mentioned that on Sept. 19, she, Anne and possibly Theresa will have an opportunity to speak to a gathering of Secondary School Student council presidents about fundraising for our cause. Anne will be speaking to the Retired Women Teachers Organization on Oct. 17. Kay asked whether a package had been made up for members who have speaking engagements. Jan offered to work on this over the summer. Theresa will give Jan the presentation format she has, plus HIV/AIDS information from the SLF and statistics. Georgina added that an effective addition to this package would be the significant effects of anti-retroviral drugs.
-the group was informed that Anne was reimbursed for printing costs from money made by print sales. The group was asked for their approval for this to continue should there be more costs. The group agreed.
-Shelley brought in a quilt to raffle. It comes from Mexico, from a women's support group called 'Walking Together', and she has offered to split the proceeds between that group and G of S. The draw will be at the June meeting.
-Maureen offered to look into obtaining a registration number on line for cards that could be used by our members to buy groceries. The number would mean that a % of every purchase would go to fundraising.
-next meeting is Tuesday, June 12 at Theresa's. It is a pot luck. Directions will be sent with the meeting reminder early in June. Members are asked to inform Theresa that they are coming.
-meeting adjourned